In-resort prices have risen by up to 13% in Europe. A new survey makes grim reading for cash conscious skiers, but there is hope.

The figures are released in the 12th annual Post Office Travel Money Ski Resort Report.

It has been complied with the help of Crystal SKI, the UK's largest ski tour operator.

France seems to be the hardest hit by rising prices with no French resorts in the European Top Ten for low-cost skiing.

The cheapest of five surveyed was Morzine (£608) but a 7.6% rise in its barometer total means the resort has fallen two places to 11th in this year's table.

Elsewhere in France, Crystal Ski resort staff found some of the biggest price rises.

Visitors to Val d'Isère (£884, 22nd in the table) can expect to pay almost 13% more this winter.

Prices in Courchevel (£855, 20th place) are up 8.9% and they are 8.1% higher in Les2Alpes (£656, 17th).

However, in Serre Chevalier (15th place) the same ski essentials cost just under £637, only 3.6% more than a year ago.

The report looks at costs in 25 resorts in Europe and six in North America.

As with all reports and surveys the findings need to be take with a pinch of salt and the parameters understood.

The items surveyed were: ski lift pass for one week (6 days); ski equipment for one week (6 days); ski school tuition (5-6 days half-day lesson); six cups of coffee; six small coca-colas; six medium glasses of wine; six bottles of beer and six lunches on the slopes.

In part the rises are due to the fluctuation in sterling producing a poorer exchange rate.

"With growing pressure on the holiday purse, resort costs should be a key factor in deciding where to ski this season," said Andrew Brown from Post Office Travel Money.

"Sterling is currently stronger against currencies for most European ski resorts compared with last year so it is local prices that will make all the difference."

"We found big variations in costs across the eurozone so we urge people to do their homework and check the Ski Resort Report prices on our website before booking."

The French Alps

So, here are the details:

Italy is the cheapest ski country overall with four resorts in the best-value Top Ten.

Bansko in Bulgaria comes in at the top with prices under half those in eight European resorts

"Bulgaria is known for being a great value destination for ski so it's little wonder Bankso has taken the top spot this year, but it's great to see so many other resorts in the mix for price conscious customer," said the MD of Crystal Ski, Chris Logan.

Enjoying cheaper in-resort prices

Bansko (Bulgaria) and Bardonecchia (Italy) are the European resorts where bargain-hunters will get the best value.

At around £405 per person for a week's ski holiday essentials including equipment hire, lift pass, ski tuition, lunch on the slopes and a range of drinks, Bansko has regained its position as the cheapest of 25 European ski resorts surveyed.

Although prices have fallen by only 1% year-on-year, Bansko's barometer total now costs 10% less than in Kranjska Gora (Slovenia) because prices there have risen by 13% to £452.

Top 10 in Europe

Top 10 in Europe

The features five new European resorts: Garmisch Partenkirchen (Germany), Grindelwald (Switzerland), Rauris (Austria), Trysil (Norway) and Vemdalen (Sweden).

Vemdalen (£514) proved to be the cheapest of the five and is fourth in the table ahead of all the Austrian, French and Swiss resorts surveyed.

Rauris has emerged as best value of five Austrian resorts and is slightly cheaper than Ellmau at around £522 compared with £527.

However, prices in Ellmau have dropped by over 4% since last year, the biggest fall among the 25 European resorts.

By comparison, they have risen 12.7% in St Anton (£922, 24th place), making it 75% more expensive than Ellmau.

Lunch in Austria

Zermatt again proved to be the most expensive resort surveyed in Europe at £1,026, although prices are down marginally (-0.3%).

Interestingly, the cost of living in the Swiss resort is over two-thirds (69%) higher than in Cervinia, across the border in Italy.

New addition Grindelwald (£871) proved to be almost 2% cheaper than the cost in nearby Wengen last season.

Now here at PlanetSKI we like to save our pennies, but every now and again it is worth pushing the boat out.

PlanetSKI on a working lunch

Over in North America Canada is considerably cheaper than the USA with Banff in Alberta representing the best value.

In North America (pricing excludes ski tuition this year) Banff was again the best value of six resorts surveyed.

At £563 for one week, the Canadian resort was 40% cheaper than Vail (£933), again the most expensive in North America.

Prices in all three Canadian resorts surveyed - Banff, Tremblant (£604) and Whistler (£828) - were lower than in the USA (Breckenridge: £832 and Heavenly: £845).

Skiers can purchase euros over the counter at more than 9,000 Post Office branches.

Currencies for other Ski Resort Report destinations, including the Swiss franc, Swedish kroner, Norwegian krone, Bulgarian lev and Canadian dollar are available immediately at over 1,600 branches, while an additional 2,400 stock US dollars.

Euros and US dollars can also be ordered online at postoffice.co.uk for same day ‘click and collect' at over 3,500 branches as well as next day collection at any branch or for home delivery.